Top 5 Russian restaurants in London: From Bob Bob Ricard to Mari Vanna

This week, we’re coming from Russia with love. If you can’t quite squeeze in a trip to St Petersburg, but you’re hankering for some of Babushka’s home cooking, take a look at this list of London’s top 5 Russian hotspots. Reviewers on Yelp have searched far and wide for a true taste of our Russian comrades, fit for a Czar. Nostrovia!

When a restaurant is famed for having a ‘press here for champagne’ button, you know you’re in for an evening of luxury and elegance. The Bob Bob Ricard menu offers Russian classics from borsch (beetroot soup), to zakuski (small appetizers) served with a shot of vodka chilled to -8 degrees. The dining room is a little over the top but oozes 1920s glamour. Yelp reviewer Lauren P. recommends checking out the cocktail menu, which has intoxicating concoctions ranging from rhubarb gin and tonic to espresso martinis.

As soon as you step into the cavernous dining room at Nikita’s, you can’t help but feel like you’ve been transported to another era. The swirly gold walls and deep red table cloths set the heavy tone for the evening. The menu boasts homely favourites like chicken Kiev and stroganoff, but also throws in a few surprises, such as apricot vodka to cleanse the palate.

At weekends, the atmosphere comes to life with live traditional Russian balalaika music, which we imagine former high profile guests, Kate Moss, Elton John and Richard Gere danced merrily to.

Russia may be famous for its vodka, but at Assorti you can sample some of the country’s beers, perfect for those laying off the hard stuff. The food is both Russian and central Asian, offering Lagmen (noodles with vegetables and meat), to vareniki, (handmade Russian dumplings). If you can’t muster the strength to make it to the central London restaurant, you’ll be pleased to hear that they deliver to various postcodes across the city.

SamarQuand goes beyond offering good Russian food and drink. For the full taste of the Soviet, you can join in one of their Russian film screenings and karaoke nights. There are themed private rooms named after cities, where you can watch live Russian TV or dabble in a video game whilst you eat. Those with inquisitive taste buds can also try traditional Uzbekistani and Kazakhstani dishes, made with a modern twist.

If you’re after an authentic experience, head to Mari Vanna. The staff and majority of diners are Russian, so don’t be surprised if the waitress tries to take your order in the mother tongue. Situated just a stone’s throw from Hyde Park, this quaint restaurant attracts the well-heeled. The décor is grandma’s shabby chic gone wild, complete with lace doilies galore. The menu changes seasonally, but the winning dishes are the crab salad and blinis. Listen out for the traditional folk songs playing in the toilets.